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Most successful?....mmmmmm?
I guess that would depend on what determines success in a fighter a/c; longevity, kill ratio, popularity (with pilots), safety record, maintainability, etc.
The question is too broad for me, sorry! However, if we are allowed to catagorize, then here is my opinion:
Longevity - Albatross series
Kill ratio - Don't know!
Popularity - Fok. D-7 (easy to fly, good performer)
Safety Record - Fok. D-7 (low numbers lost to ground handling accidents, and in-flight failures)
Maintainabilty - mmmm!....tough one, but I would have to say one of the Fokker products for sure. I know that the construction process for the Albatross and Phaltz series was detailed and time consuming with their plywood fueselages. I can only imagine field maintenance on these machines was probably not the easiest. However, with the Fokker products, simplicity was of great importance. Self supporting wings, and simple steel tubing fuselages made these planes strong and easy to maintain. Yup...that about does it!
C.Grube
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